Illuminated sign



J. L. TAnBoX, or NEw oRLEANs, LOUISIANA."

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Speeilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 47,669, dated May 9, 1865.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, J. L. TARBOX, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Illuminated Sign; and I do hereby declarev that the following is a t'ull, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this 'specilicatiom in which- Figure l is a face view of my invention; Fig. 2, a section of the same, taken in the line Fig. l.; Fig. 3, a section of a portion of the saine, taken in the line y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The object of this invention is to obtain a changeable sign with transparent letters, so constructed and arranged that it may be inserted in a sidewalk iiush with the pavement or upper surface thereof, and be suiiieiently strong to sustain the weight of persons passing over it, and admit of having a light placed under it to render the letters visible during, the night.

A represents a portion of a sidewalk having a square or other` shaped hole made init, provided with a shoulder, b, all around to sustain a metallic frame, B, the upper surface of which is flush with A. This hole to receive the frame B is made in the Hag, brick, or other material with which the sidewalk is paved, and the frame B has one or more crossbars, c. One is represented in the drawings. This crossbar c is of T-shape in its transverse section, in order to form ledges for one end of the letter-plates C ot' the sign to rest upon, the opposite ends being fitted in grooves d in the inner sides of the frame B, as shown clearly in Fig. 3.

The letter-plates Care cast with open letters, the openings being entirely7 through the plates, and resembling stencil-plate letters. The plates G are cast sufficiently heavy to support the weight of a person treading upon under sides to admit of glass plates D being inserted underneath them. The glass plates D may be of any color desired, and dierentcolored glass plates may be used in the same sign.

rIhe eross-bar chas a metal strip, dx, secured over its upper surface, said strip lapping over the edges of the letter-plates C, in order to retain them iirmly in position.

I would remark that the cross bar c may be made adjustable, if desired, so that letterplates ot different sizes may be used in the same frame B. A light-candle, lamp, or gasjet-is placed at night underneath the frame B, an excavation being made sufficient for that purpose. y

The letters, it will be seen, may be removi d from and inserted in the. frame B with the greatest facility, and hence the sign may be changed as occasion may require.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The changeable illuminated sign herein described, consisting of a grooved or rabbeted frame, B, glass plates D, movable letterplates C, and confining-strip dit, all constructed and employed as and for the purposes specified.

J. L. TARBOX.

\ Vitnesses:

JAMES P. HALL, THEO. TUsoH.

them, and they have grooves in lips at their 

